AL Globular List

    Well, I continued my journey through the Astronomical League's Globular Cluster Observing Program and so far, have completed imaging 56 from their list. One of the benefits of the observing programs is that you get to appreciate the differences between the various objects. One of the requirements of the award is that the observer, or imager in this case, must classify the clusters using the Shapely scale for central concentration. This is a scale that runs from I to XII with I the most concentrated and XII the least. Below is a sampling of some of the various clusters and their Shapely classification.

M75, in Sagittarius, is a Class I cluster.

M3, in Cannes Venatici, is a class III cluster.

M15, in Pegasus, is a class IV cluster.

M5, in Serpens is a class VI cluster. 

M22, in Sagittarius, is a class VII

NGC 5466, in Boötes, is a class XII cluster.

    I submitted my observing reports to the AL and have received the certificate and pin. There are still another 120 targets on the list and my plan is to image the brighter ones and possibly a few of the extragalactic ones in Andromeda.  That should be a pretty good challenge! My next project however is to image 100 open clusters and receive the AL Open Cluster Award. 

Clear Skies

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